Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
The World’s Biomes Tundra The tundra is located north of the Arctic Circle. Tundra: Climate ► Short summers that have bogs and swamps ► Long winters with icy winds ► EXTREME conditions ► Most Fragile Biome Simple food chains Land easily damaged Oil is a major threat Tundra: Vegetation ► Grasses, herbs, and lichens are common ► Tough shrubs and mosses ► Vegetation can grow without soil Wide, shallow roots Plants are short Tundra: Soil ► Thin soil - Only top few centimeters thaw in summer ► Permafrost ► Vast areas of rock ► Bogs Tundra: Interesting Information and swamps provide great breeding grounds for insects ► Also provides breeding grounds for many birds, caribou and their predators ► Most rodents burrow ► Many animals have great camouflage and good insulation Taiga(Boreal Forest) ► The taiga is also known as the Boreal Forest ► It is found just below the Arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere ► Largest terrestrial biome Taiga: Climate ► Long winters (6-10 months) ► Average temperatures are below freezing in the winter ► Receives little precipitation Taiga: Vegetation ► Forest floor has little vegetation ► Straight “Pole Trees” ► Mostly conifers (pines, spruces, firs) ► Short growing season (50 days) Taiga: Soil ► Acidic ► Forms slowly Taiga: Interesting Information ► Many lakes and swamps provide habitat for many species in the summer ► Many species migrate ► Others burrow underground or change color according to season Temperate Deciduous Forest ► Located between 30° and 50°N latitude in North America, Europe, and Asia Temperate Deciduous Forest: Climate ► Temperatures may be extreme Hot summers Cold winters ► Temperatures vary according to season ► Moist; abundant precipitation 75-125 cm rainfall/year Temperate Deciduous Forest: Vegetation ► Short growing season ► Adapted to survive seasons Shed leaves Seeds, bulbs, and underground stems remain dormant during winter ► 4-6 month growing season Temperate Deciduous Forest: Soil ► Rich, deep soil Temperate Deciduous Forest: Interesting Information ► Animals adapted to use forest plants for food and shelter ► Many animals migrate or reduce activity in winter Temperate Rainforest ► Located in some coastal areas of North America; Australia, New Zealand Temperate Rainforest: Climate ► A lot of precipitation ► High humidity ► Moderate temperatures year round Cool and moist ► Rarely freezes Temperate Rainforest: Vegetation ► Evergreen ► Lush ferns trees with mosses and lichens Temperate Rainforest: Soil ► Slow decay ► Fertile ► Supports many mosses, lichens, and ferns that cover the forest floor Temperate Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Trees can be more than 90 m tall Many are old-growth forests Provide habitat to endangered species World’s tallest trees Tropical Rainforest ► Located along the belt near the equator ► About 7% of the Earth’s surface Tropical Rainforest: Climate ► Always humid and warm ► Lots of rainfall Receives about 200-450 cm of rain/year ► Strong sunlight all year ► Relatively constant temperatures Tropical Rainforest: Vegetation ► More species of plants than any other biome ► Trees have above ground roots ► Grow in layers Tropical Rainforest: Soil ► Thin soil ► Few nutrients because of rapid decay Tropical Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Helps regulate the climate ► Plays a vital role in the nitrogen, and carbon cycles ► Greatest species diversity More animals live in the canopy ► Mass deforestation Approximately 100 acres/minute are destroyed by clearing Temperate Grasslands ► Located in the interiors of continents North American prairies Russian steppes South American pampas Temperate Grasslands: Climate ► Hot summers ► Cold winters ► Moderate rainfall 50-88 cm/year Often “victims” of the rainshadow effect Heavy precipitation rare ► Fires are common in summer ► Constant winds Temperate Grasslands: Vegetation ► Mostly grass ► Very few trees ► Roots form dense layers ► Rainfall determines the type of plants in an area Temperate Grasslands: Soil ► Most fertile soil of any biome ► Erosion is a common problem Temperate Grasslands: Interesting Information ► May have been replaced by agricultural crops, farming, and grazing areas ► Few natural grasslands remain Some say less than 1% ► Animals have large, flat teeth for grazing ► Other live underground Savanna ► Found in parts of Africa, Western India, Northern Australia, and parts of South America ► Located between the tropical rainforest and the desert Savanna: Climate ► Little precipitation throughout the year ► Have a wet and dry season Savanna: Vegetation ► Mostly grasses with shrubs and scattered trees ► Horizontal root systems ► Vertical leaves ► Thorns or sharp leaves ► Shed leaves Savanna: Soil ► Grass fires occur during the dry season and help restore the nutrients to the soil Savanna: Interesting Information ► Large variety of grazing animals and their predators Many active only during wet season Migratory ►Follow rains Feed according to height Chaparral ► Located in the middle latitudes 30° N and S of the equator ► Found along coastal areas with Mediterranean climates Chaparral: Climate ► Warm, dry summers ► Mild, wet winters Chaparral: Vegetation ► Broad-leaved evergreens and shrubs ► Low-lying ► Grow in dense patches ► Adapted to fire Chaparral: Soil ► Dry, sandy mix Chaparral: Interesting Information ► Animals are camouflaged by color, shape, or movement ► Human development (residential and commercial) are threatening this area Desert ► Both hot and cold deserts exist ► Hot deserts are found closer to the equator ► Often near large mountain ranges Desert: Climate ► Driest places on Earth Less than 25 cm of rain/year ► Extreme temperatures ► Often created by the rainshadow effect Desert: Vegetation ► Little or no vegetation ► Vegetation that does live there has thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water Have waxy coating Sharp spines Roots spread out near surface Dormant seeds ► New plants grow and bloom quickly Desert: Soil ► DRY Desert: Interesting Information ► Animals have thick, scaly skin ► Most animals are nocturnal Marine ► Largest biome 97% of Earth’s water ► Includes: Coral reefs Open ocean Frozen seas Abyss Coastal areas Estuaries Marine: Climate ► Salt water ► Temperature varies according to depth Marine: Vegetation ► Ocean is filled with phytoplankton, algae, and kelp forests Marine: Interesting Information ► Coastal areas protect inland from flooding Filter pollution and sediments ► Some areas are productive fisheries ► Many species not yet discovered ► Chemosynthetic organisms ► Organisms with bioluminescence ► Great biodiversity